Words: Joshua Martin & Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Gary McKenzie
Images: Chris Simpson

Western Pride Women struck twice in each half as they turned the form book on its head to defeat Gold Coast City Women 4-1 at Briggs Road Complex.

City claimed an early lead via Neesa Doyle but were reeled in by half-time courtesy of a brace by Pride's Rahni Pritchard - taking her seaon's tally to five goals.

Two further strikes in quick time in the second half sealed the result as Darcie Wilson and Nikkola Dawes iced the hosts' third win in three outings to move them to seventh on the table.

City's third straight defeat was further soured with the match concluded five minutes before full-time after Jenaya Wharekawa required ambulance attention for a serious injury.

Despite the premature conclusion, Football Queensland competition officials have stated the result will stand in accordance with the competition rules.

Key Moments

8’ - GOAL FOR CITY - Stephanie Foreman’s counter-attacking pass finds Neesa Doyle on the left touchline. She cuts into the penalty area to place a low shot past Veeren.

22’ - GOAL FOR PRIDE – Nicole Quinn's cross is stepped over by Darcie Wilson to draw the defence and enable Rahni Pritchard to take possessiona before curling her shot around City goalkeeper Sarah McDonald to level terms.

26’ - GOAL FOR PRIDE – Rahni Pritchard receives the ball on the left touchline and hits a miss guided cross which floats over the goalkeeper and into the top right of the goal. 

35’ - CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Pritchard crosses the ball deep and finds Nicole Quinn, she volleys the ball low and hard across the goal but it is just wide.

38’ - CHANCE FOR GOLD COAST – Chelsea Teveluwe receives a cross near the far post but misses an open goal with the ball skewing off her foot.

64’ - CHANCE FOR PRIDE – A corner kick finds Mariecamilla Falaniko Ah Ki at the back of the penalty area but her strike is grabbed by goalkeeper McDonald.

69’ - GOAL FOR PRIDE - Teagan Essom pushes off several City midfielders to play a through ball to Darcie Wilson. She bends the ball around goalkeeper McDonald which finds the far post and rolls in.

70’ - GOAL FOR PRIDE - Nikkola Dawes wins the ball 30 yards out, looks up, and hits a dipping shot between the goalkeeper and the crossbar.

79’ - CHANCE FOR GOLD COAST – Jayde Lowe runs onto a cross and into the box but goalkeeper Kirsten Veeren steals the ball from her feat.

83’ – INJURY GOLD COAST – Full time was blown when a late but innocuous trip saw Jenaya Wharekawa fall awkwardly. On medical advice she was deemed not to be moved from the field until an ambulance arrived forcing the match officials to conclude the contest early.

What They Said

“It was a bad way to end the match we had a similar situation on Wednesday night so we know how their team feels. We had a tough game on Wednesday night so I knew we would struggle in the early minutes. To the girls credit they got to the lead by half time which was the first time we had done that this season. We then pushed and put another two away by 75 minutes and there could have been a couple more goals for us too.” - Len Manwaring, Western Pride FC Women coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s 2016 – Round 13

Sunday June 12
Briggs Road Sporting Complex, Ipswich

Western Pride FC Women – 4 (Rahni PRITCHARD 22’ 26’, Darcie WILSON 69’, Nikkola DAWES 70’)
Gold Coast City FC Women – 1 (Neesa DOYLE 8’)

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/1Ucs3Ik

Match Officials – Sarah WILLINGTON (referee), Madeleine RAPISARDI (assistant), Cathy TEMPLE (assistant)